Closure for containers



' Nov. 9, 1937. R. w. WILSON CLQSUR-E FOR CONTAQNERS Filed Nov. 25, 1955 el d dg' v 1\ VE TOR h( M2501;

ATTORNE Patented Nov. 9, 1937 unir sTArss CLQSURE FOR CONTAINERS Ralph W. Wilson, New York, N. Y.v Application November 23, 1935, Serial No. 51,208 Y 3 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to closures for containers and particularly containers used for liquid or emulsifled cosmetic preparations. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of a closure which will prevent the accidental escape of the preparation within the container but which will permit its convenient dispensing without manual manipulation of a cap, plug, valve or the like. In accordance with the underlying principle of the invention the closure comprises generally a yielding member provided with an opening which is normally held closed by the stresses Within the yielding member itself and with cooperating non-yielding means by which pressure may be applied to the yielding member to distend the opening and permit the escape of the preparation therethrough with more or less freedom. Closures now available are usually provided with valves or caps to close the opening. Such closures can be used only after the valve or cap is manipulated. The present invention requires no manipulation of a cap or valve but on the contrary permits the closure to be opened by pressing the device against the palm of the hand into which the preparation is to be dispensed. When the pressure is relieved the opening automatically closes and when the pressure is applied the opening automatically is opened.

Reference is now to be had to the accompanying drawing for an understanding of two embodiments of the invention which will illustrate its principle.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a View in vertical sectionof the improved closure showing a fragment of a container to which it is applied.

Figure 2 is a View in perspective of the improved closure shown in Figure l and illustrating the elongated discharge opening.

Figure 3 is a View in vertical section showing another form of the device made in accordance with the invention and illustrating a fragment of a container to which it is applied.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing the device illustrated in Figure 3.

The container c has attached thereto by any convenient means such as threads a. a nonyieiding plastic neck member b. Corrugations b may be provided 'to facilitate applicatio-n of the member b to the container. A yielding gasket c may be interposed between the container and the neck member b for sealing purposes as will be understood. The end of the cap b may be of frusto-conical form as indicated at b2, a central discharge opening b3 being formed therein. A yielding closure d of rubber or other suitable material is mounted on `theV cap member b. The closure d is retained in place by a suitable cap e which may be engaged permanently 5 With the neck member b as by turning in the lower edge to engage a shoulder b4 of the neck. The end of the cap member e has a circular opening e therein to expose the central portion of the yielding closure d. This closure member l0 may be moulded so that the exposed portion of the closure d will extend through the opening e while the portion d of the closure which is not exposed will lie under the cap. In the closure d is formed a dispensing opening d2 in line l5 with the opening b3 in the neck member b. AThe opening d2 is preferably of elongated form as illustrated. The underface of the closure d may be moulded so as to seat snugly on the upper end of the neck member b so that the parts are cen- 20 tered and held -in xed interrelation.

In use, it will be evident that when the cap e is movedv downwardly on the neck member b tension will be applied Within the yieldingl closure d so as to distendthe opening d2. This 25 condition can be most conveniently effected by pressing the closure d and cap e against the palm of the hand at which time the container is tilted and its contents will be dispensed into the palm of the hand. When the pressure is re- 30 leased the resiliency of the closure cl Which has been deformed will restore the parts to their normal relation, urging the cap e upwardly, and the stresses within the yielding closure will force the material at the opening d2 into abutment and 35 close the opening automatically.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 includes a container f to which is secured a neck piece g by any suitable means such as threads f. The closure comprises a hollow yielding 40 member h of bulbous form, the base being moulded With a circular flange h' which may be disposed between the container and neck piece g to constitute a sealing gasket. The closure member h at its lower side has a central opening h2 45 to admit the preparation within the container when it is inverted. At its upper side the closure member h has a dispensing opening h3 which is preferably in line with the opening h2. The bulbous member is partially encased by a cylin- 50 drical cover z having a circular flange z" at its inner end adapted to engage a shoulder g Within the neck member g to limit the outward movement of the cover.A The cover is movable inwardly with respect to the neck member g and 55 also with respect to the yielding bulbous closure Vh. The upper end ofthe cover is preferably concave in cross section and formed with a central opening il extending around the dispensing opening h3 in the closure h.

In the use of the device it will be evident that pressure onrthe cover i will move it inwardly so as to set up stresses within the yielding clo-V sure h. serving to separate the material at the opening h3 and permit discharge of the contents of the container. At the same time, the yielding material of the closure will be deformed adjacent to the central opening h2 and this opening will be reduced commensurately in area. In fact, it is possible at least theoretically to close the opening 11.2 in such manner and prevent the ow of the preparation Within the container to the interior of the bulbous closure h while at the same time the material within this Aclosure is dispensed through the discharge opening(v h3.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 lends itself `very conveniently to the dispensing of the preparation within the container by pressure of the improved closure against the palm of one hand While the container is inverted. The cover i can be pressed rmly against the .palm of the hand and thereby moved inwardly to bring about the opening of the discharge opening h3. When vthe pressure is .released the-elasticity of the bulbous closuremember h lwill restore it to normal shape,

the internal stress serving to sealV the opening h3- mounted in the neck member and having a portion secured between said-neck member and said container to form a sealing gasket and having a dispensing opening normally closed by the resiliency of the material and a non-yielding member enclosing said yielding element and slidably mounted with relation to the said yielding closure element and said neck member to eifect separa-V tion of the yielding material at the opening and cooperating means carried by the neck member and the said slidable member to' limit the movement of said member.

2. A closure comprisinga closure member of yielding non-metallic material having an opening therein normally closed by the resiliency of the said Vmaterial, and a non-yielding hollow cover in which the yielding closure is received, the cover being movably mounted and having a portion overlying the yielding closure member and formed with a central opening surrounding V-the dispensing opening in the said closure member whereby movement of the coverV in one direction will cause separation of the yielding material at the dispensing opening.

3. A closure comprising a closure member of yielding non-metallic material having an opening therein normally Yclosed by the resiliency of the said material, and a non-yielding hollow cover in which the yielding closure is received, the cover being movablymounted and having a portion overlying the yielding closure member and formed with a central opening surrounding the dispensing opening in the said closure member, said central opening being larger than the greatest dimension of the opening in the yielding material, whereby movement of the cover in one direction will cause separation of the yieldingV material at the dispensing opening by engaging the yielding material beyond the limits of the opening therein and flexing the material adjacent RALPH W. WILSON. 

